Inquiry into Oaths and Affirmations with Reference to the Multicultural Community

Content and News

Created: Wednesday, 16 February 2011 09:18
Last Updated: Wednesday, 17 August 2011 17:03

The Law Reform Committee received terms of reference to conduct an Inquiry into Oaths and Affirmations with Reference to the Multicultural Community on 28 November 2001.

The Committee has published selected submissions to the inquiry, as well as the transcripts of evidence from the public hearings it held.

The Committee tabled its final report in Parliament on 30 October 2002. The report is pdf available for download as a pdf file 1.34 Mb. Other documents released by the Committee are also available for download from the Reports tab.

Terms of Reference

Created: Tuesday, 18 May 2010 16:14
Last Updated: Friday, 05 August 2011 15:36

Reference from the Legislative Assembly 28 November 2001

To the Law Reform Committee – for inquiry, consideration and report by 30 September 2002 on the system of oaths and oath taking in Victorian courts and the making of statutory declarations and affidavits with reference to the multicultural community and in particular to have regard to issues including but not limited to:

  1. The significance of sacred texts to witnesses, other parties and jury members of particular faiths;
  2. The provision of a sufficient range of appropriate texts and minimum standards in this regard for all Victorian jurisdictions;
  3. The provision of cultural awareness training to all court staff and persons before whom affidavits are sworn and the development of appropriate and sensitive practice by all such persons; and
  4. Whether the classes or groups of people currently permitted to witness affidavits and statutory declarations are sufficiently accessible to, and reflective of, the diversity of the Victorian community.

Submissions

Created: Tuesday, 18 May 2010 16:14
Last Updated: Friday, 05 August 2011 15:49

Please note that only some of the submissions to this inquiry are available for download in PDF format.

pdf Submission 20 - Children's Court of Victoria 12.14 Kb

pdf Submission 22 - Magistrates' Court Victoria 16.20 Kb
pdf Submission 22 - Magistrates' Court Attachment A 15.94 Kb
pdf Submission 22 - Magistrates' Court Attachment B 13.51 Kb

pdf Submission 24 - Australian Dental Association Victoria Branch Inc. 97.88 Kb

pdf Submission 27 - The Victorian Bar 13.70 Kb

pdf Submission 29 - Salt Shakers 17.26 Kb

pdf Submission 31 - Equal Opportunity Commission 18.72 Kb

pdf Submission 33 - Justices of the Peace Registry - Dept. of Justice 14.53 Kb

pdf Submission 34 - Victoria Police 13.80 Kb

pdf Submission 35 - Buddhist Council of Victoria 20.80 Kb

pdf Submission 36 - Islamic Council of Victoria 12.60 Kb

pdf Submission 37 - Victoria Legal Aid 35.81 Kb


Hearings and Transcripts

Created: Tuesday, 18 May 2010 16:12
Last Updated: Wednesday, 17 August 2011 17:05

Public hearings were held in Melbourne on 1 August 2002 and 2 August 2002. Transcripts of evidence can be downloaded in .pdf format.

Melbourne, 1 August 2002

  1. pdf Melbourne Magistrates Court 65.50 Kb
    Mr P. Armstrong, Chief Executive Officer
  2. pdf Religious Society of Friends 59.81 Kb
    Mrs B. Polzin, Yearly Meeting Secretary
  3. pdf Victorian Council of Churches 54.50 Kb
    Ms M. Postma, General Secretary
  4. pdf Environment Protection Authority 62.45 Kb
    Mr M. Hodder, Manager, Special Prosecutions Unit
  5. pdf Humanist Society 48.32 Kb
    Ms R. Ives, President
    Mr R. Dahlitz, Organiser of Speakers
  6. pdf Dr K. Laster, Associate Professor, La Trobe University 89.66 Kb
  7. pdf Islamic Council of Victoria 75.62 Kb
    Mr G. Laher, Legal Adviser
    Mr P. Knight, Executive Officer
  8. pdf Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal 90.68 Kb
    Justice M. Kellam, President
    Mr J. Ardlie, Chief Executive Officer
    Mr G. Small, Tipstaff
  9. pdf Supreme Court of Victoria 60.45 Kb
    Mr J. Saltalmacchia, Prothonotary
    Ms S. Loo, Judge's Associate
    Mr T. Peters, Senior Tipstaff
  10. pdf Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria 74.93 Kb
    Mr V. Borg, former Chairman
    Ms J. Klepner, Policy Officer
    Mr T. Hazou, Executive Officer
  11. pdf Mr R. Lloyd 41.32 Kb

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Melbourne, 2 August 2002

  1. pdf Family Court of Australia 74.01 Kb
    Justice N. Mushin
  2. pdf Buddhist Council of Victoria 64.22 Kb
    Mr B. Ashen, Chair
    Venerable T.P. Tan, Member, Management Committee
    Ms D. Cousens, Melbourne Sakya Centre, Member, Management Committee
  3. pdf Australian Multicultural Foundation 71.04 Kb
    Mr H. Dellal, Executive Director
  4. pdf Equal Opportunity Commission Victoria 56.91 Kb
    Ms D. Sisely, Chief Executive
  5. pdf Department of Justice 63.31 Kb
    Mr J. Kakos, Registrar, Justices of the Peace and Bail Justices Registry
  6. pdf Royal Victorian Association of Honorary Justices 67.31 Kb
    Mr L. Taig, JP, President
    Mr K. Frampton, JP, Immediate Past President
  7. pdf Victorian Multicultural Commission 67.29 Kb
    Mr G. Lekakis, Chairperson

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